Trim molding



y 11, 1939. c. E. WORM. 2,165,399

TRIM MOLDING Filed Aug. 28,1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ari far July 11, 1939. c, MccoRMlcK 2,165,399

TRIM MOLDING I F iled Aug, 28, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H/ H/ fla I 2 7% H m a J m l/ MNM NJ. .11 a w w mwww--- F J wa V a a 4 Y m 6. a ,m m A m I July 11, 1939; c. E. MCCORMICK TRIM-MOLDING Filed Aug. 28. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 V '//nwrae- July 1 1, 1939.- c. E. MCORMICK 2,165,399

TRIM MOLDING Filed Aug. 28, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 11 1939. c. E. MCCORMICK TRIM MOLDING Filed Aug. 28, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented" July 11, 1939 'rnn'u MOLDING Charles E, McCormick, Dearborn, Mich.

Application August 28,

10 Claims.

This invention relates generally to finish or trim moldings, and particularly to combination door sealing, panel retaining, finish moldings, for automobile body interiors.

One objection to the above type of molding, as disclosed by the prior art, is its wide and bulky appearance. This wide appearance is inherent and necessary in these prior moldings because the flexible sealing portion is visible when the i door is closed, and lies immediately adjacent to the panel retaining portion.

My molding is of considerably lesser width and of more pleasing proportions because the flexible sealing portion or flange is located underneath the panel retaining portion, one edge of the said sealing flange being secured in the outer edge of the molding adjacent the panel retaining portion, the free part of the said sealing flange extending toward the face of the door 20 opening, in contrast to the prior art where the along the hinge side of the door between the. face of the pillar and the frame of the door, and I various methods of adjustment and extra work are necessary to offset this tendency.

In my invention there is no tendency to pinch or buckle the sealing flange at the hinge side of the door. because at that point the edge of the door first contacts the flange nearest its secured edge, and then sliding along the flange toward its free edge, deflects said flange aside, until the edge of the door reaches its final position with said flange in sealing contact therewith. On the sides of the door other than the hinge side, the edge of the door first contacts the sealingflange near its free edge and slides along the flange toward its secured edge, but the initial contact of door with flange is at a point on the flange slightly past the extreme free edge of the flange, so that the flange is deflected to one side, until the edge of the door reaches its final position with said flange in sealing contact therewith.

In prior moldings of great width where the entire molding is covered with fabric, considerable expense is necessary in forming curves due principally to the difliculty of forming the fabric cover without wrinkles. I

The preferred form of my invention consists of 1934, Serial No. 741,831

(01. eas -44) two units. The first unit is the retaining channel which is formed to cross section shown in the drawings, bent to the contour of the door opening, and spotwelded or otherwise attached to the body before the body is painted. The second unit is the molding unit completely finished and including the flexible sealing flange which is made preferably of rubber compound. After the body is completely painted and ready for interior trimming, the' second or molding unit is snapped into engagement with the first unit which has been previously attached to the body. The interior trim panels are then assem-- bled with their edge lying in the panel slot along the inside edge of the molding as shown in the drawings. One of the most important objects of'my invention is the provision of a method of engagement between the two units described above whereby the molding unit may be snapped into engagement with the .retaining channel unit with the least effort and in the shortest possible time. There are several examples in the prior art where two metal moldings are snapped to-.- gether, one example being the two piece steel drip molding which has been used for several years. However, the principles involved in that construction have disadvantages which I have overcome. The engagement of these prior steel moldings usually requires considerable force such as a hammer blow, and the distorting of the members is? short and stifi. Further the engaging portions of the prior moldings are relativelywide transversely and therefore stifl transversely, and would not satisfactorily conform to and lie closely to a line such as the line of the door opening. In my retaining channel unit the engaging portion consists of a narrow and deep channel which easily follows reasonablevariation in the. contour of the door opening. Where necessary on curves the horizontal attaching -flange may be cut away leaving only the narrow engaging channel, which is extremely flexible and adaptable. Other structural details will be brought out in the specification and claims. It is to be un derstood'that this invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised or carried out in various ways. The phraseology or intended to limit the invention beyond the several claims hereto appended or the requirements of the prior art.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one side of the interior of a four door automobile body, showing one front and one rear door, and embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective cross sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. cross sectional view of the metal retaining channel taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and the line l4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the molding unit including sealing flange, detached from the body, the section being taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view thru molding unit, retaining channel, a portion of the interior edge of the door opening, and thru the center of the engaging depression at the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view thru molding unit, retaining channel, a portion of the interior edge of the door opening, and thru the center of the engaging depression at the line 65 of Fi 4.

Fig. '7 is a perspective cross sectional view of the metal retaining channel showing method of application to the interior edge of the door opening of a composite body having a wood framing.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the metal retaining channel showing method of application to a steel body pillar having an inturned flanged edge.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the molding unit including sealing flange, retaining channel applied to a body pillar, and showing the outline of a cross section of the door in two positions and showing the doors relation to the rubber sealing flange.

Fig, 10 is a cross sectional view showing this invention with variations in detail design.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view showing this invention with further variations in detail design.

Fig. 12 is a perspective cross sectional view of this invention with further variation in detail design.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of the molding unit including sealing flange, before engagement with the retaining channel, as shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view of the retaining channel at the line 88 of Fig. 12, showing in detail the method of attachment to the steel bod pillar of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view of the retaining channel of Fig. 12, showing method of application to a composite or wood framed body pillar.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an automobile body embodying this invention comprises interior paneling 10, a door ll, door opening having a face l2 which is identical with the face of the pillar, an inner steel body panel l3 spotwelded to the inner edge of the pillar face [2. mounted to swing on hinges (not shown) the location of the hinges whether at the forward or the rear side being immaterial for the purpose of this invention, since the constructions here shown are designed to operate efliciently on all sides of the door. However, the movement of the inner edge 14 of the door, in relation to a sealing flange 15 to be later described, is different on The door is the hinge side from the movement on the other sides of the door. On the hinge side or the door the edge H of the door II when closing moves in the arc of a circle toward the sealing flange l5, but for the purpose of this description the edge M of the door ll may be considered to move in a line substantially perpendicular to the face 12 of the door opening. This movement of the edge Id of the door pushes the sealing flange I5 from its normal dotted position at 16 to its flexed position as shown, where the crack between the door H and the door opening i2 is effectively sealed by the elastic pressure of the sealing flange l5. On the sides of the door other than the hinge side, the edge Id of the door ll moves in a line approximately parallel to the face l2 of the. door opening, and upon striking the sealing flange l5, deflects the flange from its dotted position It to its flnal position as shown, where the pressure of the sealing flange l5 effectively seals the crack between the door H and the door opening l2.

The sealing flange l5 forms a part of the molding unit as shown in Fig, 4, and the molding unit is adapted to cooperate with retaining channel ll comprising a V shaped channel with one side 20 curved concavely viewed from the outside of the channel, and the other side 21 straight to lay against the face l2 of the door opening. One edge i8 is turned inwardly, and the other edge [9 is flanged outwardly in a direction approximately perpendicular to the straight side 2|, so that the flange I9 lies in a plane substantially parallel to the interior wall surface of the body. At intervals the flange I9 is furtherformed as at 22 where it lies against the inside of the flanged edge of the inner steel body panel l3. The construction here shown in Fig. 2 is of an all steel body, and in this case the formed portions 22 are spotwelded to the body as shown in Fig. 3, the weld taking place at H, and thereby providing a simple and rigid fastening of the retaining channel ll to the body. The free edge of the flange i9 is upturned to provide a support 24 for the trim panel 53.

Referring to Fig, 4, the molding unit comprises a formed sheet metal molding doubled upon itself at one edge to form a channel 25 of circular cross section having an opening 26, the doubled edge 21 of the molding being one side of the channel 25. The doubled metal extends from the edge 2.1 to the point 28 where one layer of metal 29 branches away in a direction approximately perpendicular to the side of the channel 25, to form one side of the panel slot 30. The other layer of metal forms the single ply side 3i of the channel 25, and extends to the edge 32 of the opening 26. At the point 32 this layer of metal is bent at approximately a right angle to form the side of the panel slot 30. The side 33 is extended and again bent at substantially a right angle to form the engaging flange 34. Engaging depressions 35 are formed and offset from the plane of the engaging flange in a direction toward the outer edge of the molding. Engaging depressions 36 alternate with depressions 35 at successive intervals along the length of the engaging flange 34, the depressions 36 being formed and offset from the' plane of the engaging flange in the opposite direction from the depressions.35. Cross section of depression 35 is shown in Fig. 5 and cross section of depression 36 is shown in Fig. 6. Depression 35 is sheared along the line 31 and pushed from the plane of the flange 34 to the position best shown in Fig. 5, where it can be seen that the depression is wedge shaped and tapers from the point 38 to ajicasoe.

the sheared offset edge 31. Depression 36 is of wider and more substantial base to lie upon the the same form as 36.

When the molding unit of Fig. 4 is snapped into engagement with the retaining channel II as shown in Fig. 2, the tapered form of the depressions 36 and 36 gradually spread the opening 38 of the retaining channel i'l until the inturned edge i8 snaps over and interlocks with the depression 35. The depressions 36 are tight against the edge 39, the extreme edge 40 of the engaging flange 34 is wedged between the sides 20 and 2| of the retaining channel ii. The molding unit is therefore rigidly and positively held by the retaining channel l'l.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the open channel 25 receives and holds the rubber sealing flange l by bending the channel 25 from the dotted position 42 to the closed position shown by the drawings. The secured edge of the sealing flange I5 is formed in the shape of a bead 43 of the proper size to fit in the channel 25 when closed. The

' positioning edges 44 and 45 are an integral part slight force to flex the sealing flange.

tion of the engaging flange 34, or when assembled' as in Fig. 2, the sealing flange extends in the direction of the face l2 of the door opening. The main portion of the sealing flange I5 is relatively thin and flexible. and terminates at its free edge in a round stiffening bead 46 which serves to hold the thin portion of the sealing flange I5 in'a uniform unwaving shape both during the process of manufacturing the rubber flange l5 and also after assembly in the body.

Fig. 9 shows the preferred form of the sealing flange. In is free and normal position, the rub ber sealing flange is in the .position 41 shown by dashed lines. In this position, the stiffening bead lies against the face I 2 of the door opening with a very slight. pressure. The dotted line 49 is the outline of the door at a position during its closing whenit is moving substantially parallel to the face l2 of the door opening, and has arrived 'at a point where it has just touched the sealing flange at 50. The final closed positionof the door is shown by the dotted line 5|. In moving from position 49 to position 5|, the door has pushed and flexed the sealing flange from the dashed position 41 to its final position 52, and the crack between the door opening i2 and the door is effectively sealed. The action of the door in closing is soft and flexible beginning at the initial position 49 and at that point requires only a tial contact is soft because of the relatively great flange in the proper direction into the corner 55 formed by the extended molding unit 56 and the curved side 20 of the retaining channel ll.

Fig. 7 shows the application of the retaining channel II to the door opening of a wood frame body by means of nails. .In this application the only difference in the retaining channel I! lies in the formation of the flange at 51 to provide a This ini-- inner surface of the body.. In this application it is desirable to insert a few nails thru the lower edge 53 of the retaining channel H, for greater stability. The molding unit shown in Fig. 4 can then be snapped into the retaining channel of Fig. '7.

Fig. 8 shows application of retaining channel I! to a steel body door opening having an inturned flange edge 60. The retaining channel 51 is formed in the same manner as in Fig. 7, except, there are no holes for nails, since in his case the retaining channel I1 is spotwelded to the body at the points Bi and 62, the arrows showing the direction of pressure of the welding electrodes (not shown).

Fig. shows another embodiment of this invention in which the molding unit of Fig. 4 and a part of the retainer channel of Fig. 3 are combined in a single unit, in which the entire metal part is integral and formed from one strip ofsheet metal. This'unit is completely finished and assembled with the rubber sealing flange 81. and then attached to the body door opening l2, preferably with self tapping metal screws 88, after the body is fully painted and ready for assembly of the interior trim. During the operation of attachment to the body, the sealing flange 81 is bent away from the attaching flange 89 as each screw is inserted. After the unit is assembled to the body, it functions in the same manner as the construction shown in Fig. 2. If the'screws 88 are used entirely around the door opening as the sole means of attachment, then it is not necessary to further form the flange 90 (as was done at 22 in Fig. 2). If the unit of Fig. 10 is applied to a wood frame shown in Fig. '7, then it may be desirable to use nails instead of screws, inserting the nails thru the flange 89 and also forming the flange 90 and inserting nails as at 51 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 shows a simplified embodimentof this invention where the molding unit of Fig. 4 (excepting the depressions 35 and 36) is attached directly to the body, preferably by means of self tapping metal screws. The unit is fully finished and assembled with the sealing flange 9| and attached to the body after the same has been painted and is ready for assembly of-the interior trim. After assembly to the body, this construction seals the door'in the same manner as the constructions of Fig. 2 and of Fig. 11. It will be noted that there is no flange and panel support (as 24 in Fig. 2) and that the edge 92 of the panel slot 93 does not exert pressure-on the trim panel 94. The panel 94 lies flat and the edge of the panel lies loosely in the panel slot 93, which condition is likely to leave an irregular opening at 95 in contrast with the neat and tight contact of the molding with panel at 96 of Fig. 10. However, the embodiment of Fig. 11 is simple, costs less than the other constructions shown, and may be suitable for some conditions of use.

Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15, show a construction within the broad idea of my invention but illustrating the possibility of varying the details of design. In Fig. 13 the molding unit comprises two separate pieces of metal .63 and 64 joined together by spotwelding at 65 with direction of pressure of the welding electrodes (not shown) indicated by the arrows. Part 64 ends on one side in an open channel 66 which is closed about the head 61 of the sealing flange 68. The opposite end 69 of part 64 is formed into a hook shaped engagingedge 10. Part 63 is formed into iii) side of the open channel 66 and the base 15 of the panel slot H. The exterior surface of the channel 66 is covered with a strip of fabric I6,

and the outer surface of the exposed portion of the panel slot II is covered with a second strip of fabric 11. The two adjacent meeting edges of the fabrics l6 and 11 are forced into the groove 14, making a neat and secure joint. This construction makes possible the use of two strips of fabric of contrasting appearances. Another advantage of this consruction is the easy forming of the fabric covering into a curve, because of the independent application of the two strips of fabric.

In Fig. 14 the retaining channel 18 is formed of a channel I9 having one edge 80 inturned and the metal doubled back upon itself to extend away from the channel 19 to form a supporting shaft 8|. The bottom of the channel 18 is extended a relatively great distance downward, the metal being doubled upon itself at 82. The straight side 83 of the channel 18, is flanged outward at 84 in the same manner as the channel retainer IT in Fig. 2. The attachment of the retainer channel 18 to the body is accomplished by the same method described in the first embodiment of Fig. 2. When the molding unit of Fig. 13 is snapped intoengagement with the retaining channel of Fig. 14, the curved portion 69 spreads the points 80 and 8d of the channel l8 until the engaging edge Ill of the molding unit interlocks with the engaging edge 80 of the retaining channel. After interlocking, there is pressure exerted upon the curved portion 69 by the sides of the channels 83 and 85, and the molding unit rests on the extended flanges BI and 86, thereby securely engaging the molding unit with the retaining channel.

Fig, 15 shows the application of the retaining channel 18 of Fig. 14 to a wood frame body by means of nails.

It will thus be seen that I have designed a molding of extreme narrowness and the fabric cover may be curved with little difliculty; one variation of my design permitting the covering of the molding with two separate strips of fabric applied independently and parallel to each other, one strip covering the inner edge of the molding and the other strip covering the remaining visible portionof the molding. This variation in design further reduces the difliculty of forming the fabric on curves. Most of the drawings show moldings without fabric cover. Any one of a variety of finishes may be applied to the steel part, such as, lacquer paint or enamel, chrome or other plating, fabric, artificial leather or genuine leather. The finish does not affect the broad idea covering the mechanical work done by the molding, namely, sealing the door to prevent drafts and dust from entering the car, the

holding of the interior trim panels in position, and the neat finishing of the interior edges of the door opening.

Due to the relatively great depth of the retaining channel, its edges may be spread with very slight force, the principal bending taking place at the extreme bottom, with only slight distortion of the metal at that point, well within the elastic limit, while allowing a comparatively great movement of the engaging edges of the channel. This great movement is very desirable and is in marked contrast to prior engaging channels, where the reverse is true, that is, there is comparatively smaller movement of the engaging edges of the channel, and a relatively larger amount of actual distortion in the metal itself. The engaging flange projecting from my molding unit, consists of a single thickness of metal having a series of shallow depressions formed therein, one edge of each depression being sheared thru and the metal of the depression pushed slightly out of alignment with the surface of the engaging flange. The depressions are alternately pushed first from one side of the engaging flange and then from the other side. When the engaging flange of the molding is pushed into the retaining channel, the tapered form of the depressions on the sides of the engaging flange gradually and easily spread the edges of the retaining channel until one edge of the engaging channel, which is turned inwardly, snaps over and interlocks with the sheared edge of the depressions on one side of the engaging flange. The opposite side of the retaining channel exerts pressure on the adjacent depressions of the engaging flange, and in addition, the extreme edge of the engaging flange being wedged between the sides of the retaining channel in the lower part of the V, this combination of actions holds the molding unit in rigid and positive engagement. The action of these intermittent depressions of one member with the continuous inturned edge of the other member, is very desirable, for the reason that each single depression snaps into place separately and successively, and the two members are more easily and positively interlocked, than if both interlocking edges were continuous, as is the case in the prior art.

It will further be seen that the retaining channel must have a normal opening, when not spread, sufficient to allow the insertion of a bending tool (not shown) used in bending the channel to the contour of the door opening. In order that the engaging flange of the molding unit may fill up this opening, is one of the reasons that the depressions were made on the side of the engaging flange opposite to the locking side thereof. The series of depressions on the locking side are of the same form as the foregoing depressions but their engagement with the retaining channel is different as explained in the foregoing,

The preferred method of making the metal portion of the molding unit (including the engaging flange) is, first, to roll form the entire metal portion of said unit in practically continuous length from coiled strip steel. Then, both series of depressions, described in the foregoing, will be formed successively and automatically, preferably, by a series of dies arranged around the circumference of two coacting rolls between which the molding is fed. The molding This attaching flange maybe used in the right angle position or it may be depressed or formed at intervals to conform to different structural conditions in the body. The extreme edge of said attaching flange is upturned to provide a rest for the trim panel when it is inserted in the panel slot in the molding unit. As will be noted in the drawings, this'rest exerts on the panel an upward force, which operating in conjunction with the downward force exerted by the overlying edge of the molding unit, imparts a convex surface to the trim panel which is highly desirable from an appearance standpoint.

Due to the'foregoing construction there will alv ways be a tight and neat appearing conjunction where the overlying edge of the molding unit is in contact with the outer surface of the trim panel.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with an automobile body having a frame, a door, a sheet metal retaining member on the face of the frame, and a molding unit 'having a metal flange engaged with the said retaining member.

2. In combination with an automobile body having a door opening, a door, a retaining member attached to the body adjacent the inner edge of the door opening, and a molding unit including a series of projections engaged with the said retaining member.

3. In combination with an automobile. body having a door opening frame, a door, an expandible channel retaining member secured to the frame, and a molding unit having a rigid member engaged therewith.

4. In combination with an automobile body having a .door opening frame, a' door; retaining means attached to the door opening frame, and including an elastic expandible channel having one edge inturned, and one edge outturned to provide an attaching flange and trim panel support; and a molding unit engaged therewith, and including a finish molding attached to and projecting beyond the edge of said door opening and overlying the edge of said door, said flnish molding having along its inner edge an open slot for receiving and holding the edge of a trim panel, and a flexible sealing flange having one edge secured in the outer overlying edge of the finish molding, the free edge of said sealing flange projecting toward'the face of the door opening frame and lying underneath the overlying portion of said flnish molding.

5. A molding assembly, for concealing the crack between opposed frame members, comprising a resilient metal retaining member lying between said frame members, and a flnish molding entireiy overlying the said crack, the flnish molding having an extended metal portion engaged with said retaining member.

6. In combination with an automobile body, a door opening frame having an inwardly extending flange, a door, and a flnish molding member carried by said flange and having an extended sheet metal portion engageable with the face of the flange farthest away from said door, a portion of said molding being bent to extend laterally across the crack between the door and the flange. 7

7. In combination with an automobile body, a door opening frame having an inwardly extending flange, a door, and a molding assembly carried by said flange and having an extended sheet metal portion .engageable with the face of the flange farthest away from said door, a portion of said molding being bent to extend laterally across the crack between the door and the flange, said bent portion being continued to form a slot for receiving one edge of a trim panel. I

8. In combination with an automobile body having a door opennig frame with an inwardly extending flange,-a body panel with an inwardly extending flange, a door, a sheet metal retaining member having a channeled portion engageable with said flanges and extending inwardly a predetermined distance with respect to said door, and a flnish molding connected to said retaining member. and extending transversely and completely across the crack between the door and the frame. 4

9.'In combination with an automobile body having a door opening frame with an inwardly extending flange, a body panel with an inwardly extend ng flange, a door, a sheet metal retaining member having'a channeled portion engageable with said flanges and extending inwardly a predetermined distance with respect to said door, a finish molding connected to said retaining member and extending transversely across the crack between the door and frame, and a flexible sealing strip carried by said molding-for contacting with the door and so positioned as to be substantially concealed when the door is closed.

10. In combination with an automobile body having a door opening frame with an inwardly extending flange, a door, a sheet metal retaining member having a portion engageable with the side of said flange farthest away from the door and extending inwardly a predetermined distance with respect to said door, a finish molding attached to said retaining member and extending transversely across and entirely covering the crack between the door and frame, and a flexible sealing strip carried by said molding for contacting with the door and so positioned as to be concealed when the door is closed.

CHARLES E. MOCORMICK. 

